Adela Edgecombe's quest for her family's origins leads her to uncover shocking truths about her parents' love story, set against the backdrop of World War II. In her family memoir, she confronts the enigmatic nature of marriages, particularly her own family's history. The narrative unfolds in the Province of Salerno, Italy, in 1944, where a young American GI forms a bond with an impoverished Italian family. As he departs for the front, he promises a nine-year-old child that he will return to help them. Against all odds, he fulfills this promise, culminating in a fairy-tale wedding in Passiano in 1951, celebrated in Life Magazine. However, Edgecombe delves deeper, exploring the complexities behind this seemingly perfect union and the challenges that followed. Her investigation reveals the often-overlooked realities of relationships born in tumultuous times. This well-researched and poignant memoir serves as a reminder of the many and varied casualties of war, inviting readers to reflect on the mysteries that shape our families and the legacies they leave behind.
Adela Edgecombe Book order (chronological)
